Friday, November 30, 2012

Some thoughts about “race” in the race to be Mayor…

The dust has barely settled from the 2012 election season
and St. Louis city is already gearing up for another hotly contested bid for
political power. Mayor Francis
Slay will face St. Louis Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed in the 2013 primary. Former Alderman Jimmie Matthews is also running.

Let the games begin!

Longtime readers know that I rarely write about city
politics. I’m making an exception because my last nerve is already being
worked.

"I am concerned that my opponent will play the race
card and otherwise be divisive in this campaign," Slay said. "I never
have and I won't be involved in that kind of effort."

Mayor Slay is white.

Alderman Reed is black.

And yes, water is still wet.

Shall we?

Nothing works my nerve like someone injecting race into
politics through use of the term “race card”.

I can’t stand it…hate it…wish it go away and take the
foundation of dismissing racism it rests on with it.

St. Louis is a city with a long history of racial tension. I
love this city, but it is what it is…and trying to ignore reality is a big part
of why that reality hasn’t changed.

Now, you know and I know that you know that I know there
isn’t any way in hell this campaign is going to go forth without race being an
issue. Mayor Slay basically
guaranteed that race would be front and center with his nifty little passive
aggressive “race card” comment.

The goal of most “race card” comments is to box a person of
color into a corner…get them to either not address race at all or to address it
defensively which tends to turn off white voters who fear black politicians are
incapable of representing anyone other than black people.

I’m betting some minion weighed the risk of turning off
black voters by implying that we respond like dogs to a whistle when any
candidate of color throws down the mythical “race card” and decided Slay’s
campaign could take the percentage hit.

Mayor Slay might as well have announced “in case you missed
it, Lewis Reed is black…blackety, black, BLACK!” dropped the mic and then skipped
back to his office.

And that takes me back to St. Louis city and our long
history of racial tension.

Slay’s comment actually acknowledges that history…his bait about the
“race card” requires the existence of racial tension or it wouldn’t make a lick
of sense.

I suppose manipulating the electorate based on racial
tension is far easier than being a catalyst for change.

Blink.

Anyhoo, I seriously doubt Slay is going to hold office by trying to define
the President of the St. Louis Board of Alderman as a mere race candidate.

That dawg ain’t gonna hunt!

Pause…consider…continue.

Or maybe Mayor Slay misspoke.

Could this have been a verbal malfunction?

Maybe he was trying to say that he was concerned his
opponent is going to play the “Rex card”!

There are more POC in St. Louis than non-POC. Alienating these (potential) voters doesn't help your cause.

But how do you engage in public discourse on race during a mayoral campaign without people shouting at each other and white people making excuses? Or engage in public discourse on race anywhere, at any time? White folks love to complain about the race card, but never stop to think about other people. Period. Almost all of the concerns come from a place of ME ME ME ME OFFENDED ME ME ME ME. Maybe other people know what they're talking about. And white people, ignorant though they may be, always feel the need to talk the longest and loudest. They get offended by the truth and don't listen.

The only difference between black politicians using race and white politicians using race in politics is that white politicians are better at acting indignant when accusations start to fly!Beyond-Dollars-&-Sense!

First off, let me tell you how happy I am to see that you are still writing. Prior to my most recent deployment, I believe you were facing some pretty serious health matters. I just returned from Afghanistan, and this is my first time on your blog in a while. So, so, so glad to know that your voice is still out there in the universe.

Pertaining to your topic, it simply must be the season for race politics and randomness.

I just came across an article yesterday that highlighted one young student's push for white student unions. He feels that white culture is in dying out and that it whites, especially males, are discriminated against in our country.

Had to write a response: http://thelionshistorian.com/in-response-to-the-call-for-white-student-unions/